BYD made its entrance into South Africa in 2023 with the launch of the Atto 3 (Yuan Plus). Last year, the Chinese automotive manufacturer introduced the Dolphin and Seal EVs to the market. Their current lineup includes three electric vehicles.
However, South African customers show a preference for HEVs and PHEVs over BEVs. As such, BYD plans to introduce more models to the market, including plug-in hybrid vehicles. One of these is the Shark pickup truck, designed with international markets in mind.
Will the BYD Shark, set to launch in South Africa in 2025, make its way to Vietnam?
According to Chinese media outlet Bitauto, the BYD Shark pickup truck will be launched in South Africa in early 2025. The unveiling of this model, also known as the BYD Shark 6, is expected to take place later this year.
The BYD Shark pickup was initially launched in the Mexican market in 2024. Subsequently, this PHEV made its way into other countries, including Brazil, Cambodia, and Australia. Notably, the BYD Shark was named News Corp’s 2024 Car of the Year in Australia, despite deliveries not commencing last year.
The BYD Shark boasts impressive dimensions of 5457/1971/1925 mm, with a wheelbase of 3260 mm. This PHEV has a towing capacity of 2500 kg. It is built on the DMO platform and features a 1.5-liter ICE engine, along with two electric motors. The combined output of the system reaches 320 kW (429 hp) and 650 Nm. The Shark can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds.
Another feature of the BYD Shark is its 29.6 kWh LFP battery, which offers an NEDC-rated all-electric range of 100 km. The combined range of this PHEV is 840 km, with a fuel consumption of 7.5 liters per 100 km (NEDC). There is no information available on the pricing of the BYD Shark in South Africa. For reference, the starting price of the vehicle is 899,980 pesos ($43,800) in Mexico, 379,800 reais ($60,800) in Brazil, and 57,900 AUD ($36,250) in Australia.
According to sources, BYD plans to introduce several models to the South African market, but it is unclear which ones. However, BYD South Africa’s general manager, Steve Chang, has indicated that the company is working towards launching an electric vehicle in the local market, priced between 300,000 and 350,000 South African rand ($16,150 – $18,850).